Finding Text
Federal agency name: U.S. National Science Foundation & U.S. Department of Commerce Federal program title: Geosciences, Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Office of International Science and Engineering & NOAA – Cooperative Institute AL No.: 47.050, 47.070, 47.079 & 11.432 Federal Award Identification No. & Award Period: EAR-1849458 (06/01/2019 -05/31/2024), EAR-2012893 (10/01/2020 – 08/31/2025), OAC-1931278 (10/1/2019 – 09/30/2023), EAR- 2244446 (03/01/2023 – 02/28/2026), OAC-2209833 (01/01/2023 – 12/31/2026), OAC-1829744 (09/01/2018 – 08/31/2023), OAC-1835592 (01/01/2009 – 12/31/2022), OAC-1835818 (10/01/2018 – 09/30/2024), OAC-2103780 (10/01/2021 – 09/30/2026), OAC-2118329 (10/01/2021 – 09/30/2026), OISE-1855654 (05/15/2019 – 12/31/2023) & A22NWS4320003 (08/01/2022 – 07/25/2025, 08/01/2022 – 07/25/2025, 04/01/2023 – 03/31/2024, 06/01/2023 – 05/31/2024, 06/01/2023 – 05/31/2026, 06/01/2023 – 05/31/2025, 06/01/2023 – 05/31/2025) Pass Through Entity: University of Alabama MW2023-002 PROCUREMENT, SUSPENSION AND DEBARMENT Material Weakness Criteria The requirements for this compliance requirement are contained in 2 CFR sections 200.317- 200.326; 48 CFR parts 03, 15, 44, and the clauses at 48 CRF sections 52.244-2, 52.244-5, 52.203-13, 52.203-16 and 52.215-12; agency FAR supplements; 2 CFR part 180; OMB M-18- 18; and the terms and conditions of the federal award. There is a requirement to verify that contractors in covered transactions or any of its vendors are not federally debarred, suspended, or excluded. A covered transaction is a nonprocurement or procurement transaction in excess of $25,000 that is subject to the prohibitions noted in 2 CFR part 180. The covered transaction may be at the primary tier, between a federal agency and a person or a lower tier between a participant in a covered transaction and another person. Condition CUAHSI failed to maintain and provide the proper records and support to document their review of vendor files for covered transactions. Such failure led to non-compliance with the procurement, suspension and debarment policies in accordance with the UG for the year ended December 31, 2023. CUAHSI did not complete the verification of its 2023 vendors until 2024. Based on our testing, no contractors in covered transactions were deemed to be federally debarred, suspended or excluded. Cause & Context CUAHSI has a policy in place to meet the procurement requirements but there was no evidence of compliance with that policy. Effect As a result of noncompliance, there could be possible repayment of funds and / or possible suspension or debarment. Questioned Costs None Prior Year Audit Finding Yes, previously reported as MW2022-006. Recommendation CUAHSI should ensure that, to the extent practicable, the use of a competitive procurement process in compliance with 2 CFR section 200/317. View of Responsible Official and Planned Corrective Action See accompanying Corrective Action Plan.